Method and system for the prevention of copyright piracy

Abstract

The invention provides a method of prevention of copyright piracy, comprising the step of, at an event, transmitting a signal to interfere with the operation of a recording device such as a video camera, thereby interrupting any recording by the recording device occurring at the event.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of prevention of copyright piracy, comprising the step of, at an event, transmitting a signal to interfere with the operation of a recording device, thereby interrupting any recording by the recording device occurring at the event.  
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , in which the signal is an infrared signal comprising a sequence of coded pulses.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , in which the recording device is a video camera.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , in which a plurality of signals are transmitted, each signal corresponding to a known sequence of coded pulses of the remote control of one or more recording devices.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , in which the plurality of signals are chosen to correspond to the signals of the remote control units of a selected number of video cameras.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , in which the transmission of the signal is repeated periodically.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 4 , in which the plurality of signals are transmitted in sequence, said transmission of the plurality of signals being repeated periodically.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , in which the signal is selected to activate a STOP function of the recording device, thereby stopping the recording of the recording device.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , in which the signal is selected to activate a PAUSE function of the recording device, thereby pausing the recording of the recording device.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , in which the signal is transmitted at a loud point during the event, thereby reducing the chance of a user of the recording device realising that recording has been interrupted.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , in which the loud point is identified automatically by an associated control unit.  
     
     
         12 . An anti-piracy system comprising: 
 a transmitter adapted to transmit one or more predetermined signals; and    a control unit to operate the transmitter, wherein the predetermined signals are selected to correspond to a known sequence of coded pulses of the remote control of one or more recording devices.    
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 12 , in which the control unit comprises a programmable memory adapted to receive data relating to one or more signal transmissions for transmission by the transmitter.  
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 13 , in which the data correspond to a known sequence of coded pulses of the remote control of one or more video cameras.  
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 12 , in which the control unit comprises a microprocessor.